Part family drama, part contemporary thriller, Rule of Threes is a middle grade story about what happens when "perfect" is out of your control.   An interior design enthusiast, twelve-year-old Maggie Owens is accustomed to living her life according to her own precise plans. But when she learns about Tony, a mysterious half-brother her own age who needs a place to stay, any semblance of a plan is shattered. Tony's mom struggles with an addiction to opioids, and now she's called upon Maggie's dad—who is also Tony's dad—to take him in. On top of everything, Maggie must also come to terms with the Alzheimer’s afflicting her beloved grandmother.   While Maggie can strive for—and even succeed in—a picture perfect design, when it comes to family, there is no such thing as perfection. To work through the sudden struggles rocking her world, Maggie must learn the importance of having an open heart.     •    A heart-wrenching, authentic, and darkly funny coming-of-age story •    Addresses hard-hitting topics—such as divorce and substance abuse—with care and honesty •    From Marcy Campbell, author of Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse   Merci Suárez Changes Gears meets The Thing About Jellyfish in this compulsively readable novel.   •    Perfect for ages 10 and up •    Appeals to those interested in stories about friendship and non-traditional families •    Great for readers who love a bold and self-aware protagonist

This kind of thing won't be tolerated at our school, the principal declares the day the "Bad-Something" is discovered written on a wall. The incident makes the kids nervous, giggly and curious at first, but then they're worried, confused, sad or angry. Everyone is suspicious. Who did it, and why? They miss the days before the bad-something appears, because everything -- and everyone -- feels different now, including parents and teachers. It takes a lot of talking, listening, looking and learning together to find a way through. Culminated in a creative group mural project, the story acknowledges that while the scars of such incidents remain, it is possible to teach tolerance and feel true community once again. Illustrated by bestselling and acclaimed artist Corinna Luyken, here is a brave book about the power of words that tackles one of the most difficult topics for elementary school-aged children -- hate speech -- in a direct, realistic and empathetic manner. NOTE: The "bad-something" is never shown or revealed in the text or art. Further resources are included in an author's note at the end.